‘Plutoids’ Are The New Dwarf Planets

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Long ago, Pluto was a planet. We all learned that in grade school (unless you were born in the 90s, I suppose), and it stuck with us until two years ago when it was demoted to “dwarf planet” status. Those of us that used mnemonics to remember all of the planets years and years ago (My Very Excellent Mother Just Sent Us Nine Pizzas) will be delighted to learn that while Pluto isn’t coming back, it is going to be honored in another way.

The International Astronomical Union has decided to name any planetoid that spends its time outside of Neptune’s atmosphere a ‘plutoid’ from now on. After two years of wallowing in uncertainty, I’m sure that Pluto is proud to have the new classification. The scientists that were part of the naming process wanted something that clearly gave homage to the fallen planet, but could also be used for other planetoids of the same type.

There are key requirements for becoming a plutoid – the object must reside in a certain part of space and be minimum brightness. Minimum brightness is a term that comes, literally, from how bright the object appears. The brightness depends on what covers the planetoid, so the ice that covers Pluto means that it can be a plutoid, but if it were covered in rock, it would not even earn its own namesake.

While it’s never going to come back as a planet, I think we can all welcome Pluto back in its new position, even if it’s been demoted.

Speak Your Mind

Jeffery

I hate to be too picky about this, I'm sure this was some sort of a typo. But you should have said "planetiod that spends it's time outside of Neptune's orbit"not atmosphere.

Govmunkee

Jeffrey, that was a good point but how can anyone take you seriously if you can't even spell "PLANETOID". The article other than this silly little comment from Jeffrey is pretty informative. I'm sure the editor of this article has been hassled enough from his colleagues for making the silly mistake of giving pluto an atmosphere. Keep the good work up and the mistakes to a minimum!

hawke

Speaking of mistakes, "the silly mistake of giving pluto an atmosphere". One, Pluto doe's have an atmosphere, a very thin layer of nitrogin, methane, and carbon monoxide. Two, I can't take anyone seriously if they can't make out planetoid from "planetiod" (mistakes happen, we all are not perfect. Deal with it).

davethejackal

Did I just read 3 posts, only the first of which really made sense other than a minor spelling mistake? At what point did anyone say anything about pluto having or not having an atmosphere?